Hermes set to expand to 3,000 in-store collection points this year

Hermes says its shop-based collection point scheme is on course to expand to 3,000 sites by the end of this year, a figure that underlines the growing importance of collect-from-store as an alternative delivery option.

The update comes as the delivery company adds 49 new stores to its myHermes ParcelShops network by teaming up with Southern Co-operative.

Announcing the partnership, which will see shoppers and small businesses able to send, collect and return parcels through Southern Co-operative stores, Rob Edson, chief financial officer at Hermes, said: “This latest agreement with such a well-known and trusted name within the community underlines the value myHermes ParcelShop offers to both convenience retailers and their customers. We are set to expand our network to 3,000 sites this year.”

Southern Cooperative sees a boost for convenience stores in the deal to take online deliveries into stores. Paul Bye, head of category and trading at the retailer, said the proposition would give its customers more, as well as “delivering real benefits to our stores.” He added: “This includes an added revenue stream, greater awareness in the neighbourhood and increased footfall and overall basket spend.”

Our view: Hermes is one of several operators in the fast-developing collect from store sector and this news of expansion is significant for retailers because it shows that the local store is becoming ever more important in online commerce. As an alternative delivery point, the store seems to be firmly ahead of the locker bank model in terms of breadth of network. That makes sense because the infrastructure for shop as collection point already exists, unlike locker banks, which as yet seem to be the most convenient option for consumers in only very selected geographies. That, of course, may change as the alternative delivery market develops.

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